Stealing Bases

Question
QUESTION: Can you steal a base while the pitcher is doing their wind-up, or do you have to wait until the ball is released from their hand?

ANSWER: You must stay in contact with the base until pitch is released.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Who gets called for interference if you are running to first base and the first baseman is standing in the baseline, but does not have the ball?

Answer
This depends.


If F3 (the first baseman) is making an initial play on the ball it is the  BR (batter/runners) responsibility to completely avoid F3.  If the BR in any way causes F3 to change how she would play the ball, you have interference and the BR is out.  You do not need to have contact to have interference.

If F3 is not making the initial play on the ball, it is F3's responsibility to stay out of the way of the runner until F3 gets the ball.  If F3 causes the runner to change how she runs the bases while F3 doesnt' have the ball, then you have obstruction on F3.  If this occurs, the umpire will award the runner whatever base the umpire thought the runner would have made it to without the obstruction.  You do not need to have contact to have obstruction.

Let me know if you have any more questions on this

Tom